2 Chronicles 6:31

so that they may fear You and walk in Your ways all the days they live in the land that You gave to our fathers.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Solomon addresses this petition to God during the temple dedication, immediately following a request for divine forgiveness based on God’s knowledge of human hearts (2 Chronicles 6:30). The moment marks the transition from temple construction to the expected spiritual life of the people inhabiting the promised land.

The words — The Hebrew לְמַ֣עַן (le.ma.'an) functions as a purpose clause meaning "so that," framing the preceding prayer’s intended outcome. יִֽירָא֗וּ/ךָ (yi.ra.'u./kha) carries the literal sense "they may fear you," establishing reverence as the primary condition for the people’s conduct.

The thread — This pairing of divine fear and obedient living appears in Exodus 20:20, where Moses states that God’s fear is placed before Israel to preserve them. It resurfaces in 1 Samuel 12:24 and Job 28:28, which directly equate fearing the Lord with faithful service and practical understanding.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to treat reverence for God as the basis for sustained, daily obedience rather than occasional piety. It demands that the promise of the land be met with continuous adherence to divine instruction throughout one’s entire lifespan.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

לְמַ֣עַןle.Ma.'anso that יִֽירָא֗וּךָyi.ra.'U./khathey may fear/ you לָלֶ֙כֶת֙la./Le.khetto/ walk בִּדְרָכֶ֔יךָbi/d.ra.Khei./khain/ ways/ your כָּל־kol-all הַ֨יָּמִ֔יםhai./ya.Mimthe/ days אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-which הֵ֥םhemthey חַיִּ֖יםchai.Yim[are] alive עַל־'al-on פְּנֵ֣יpe.Nei[the] surface of הָאֲדָמָ֑הha./'a.da.Mahthe/ land אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhich נָתַ֖תָּהna.Ta.tahyou gave לַאֲבֹתֵֽינוּ׃ סla./'a.vo.Tei./nuto/ ancestors/ our

King James Version

That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.

Cross-references

Exodus 20:20 “Do not be afraid,” Moses replied. “For God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you, to keep you from sinning.”
1 Samuel 12:24 Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.
Job 28:28 And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
Psalms 128:1 A song of ascents. Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways!
Psalms 130:4 But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.
Acts 9:31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.